When I read about Chapter 1 of The Design of Everyday Things, the first thing that comes to my mind is how confused I felt using Brightspace when I first came to NYUAD. The author explains that when something is designed poorly, people usually blame themselves instead of the system that created it. That stood out to me because that is exactly how I felt. I kept thinking I was the problem and that I just was not understanding how to use it I had trouble when uploading my assignments, and when trying to find professors’ feedbacks. Before NYUAD, I used Google Classroom, and everything there felt simple and clear and it was easy to use and understand. Brightspace felt crowded and all over the place which made it hard to navigate. After reading this chapter, I realized my frustration was not only about me. It was also about the design itself.
The chapter also talks about how designers sometimes assume everyone thinks the same way they do. That made me think about how different people use technology in different ways. Some people grow up using all kinds of apps and websites, so they get used to complicated layouts and things that could be considered “confusing” to other people. Others do not have that same experience, so they might feel lost more easily. I noticed this with WordPress too. The first time I used it, I had no idea where anything was. It felt overly crowded and confusing. After using it many times, I slowly got more comfortable. That helped me understand why designers need to think about all kinds of users, not just people who already know similar platforms.
There are also websites that feel easy right away. To me Amazon is a good example. The search bar is easy to find when trying to search for the product you’re looking for, the cart is always in the same place and when you click it you could see what you added there, and checking out or tracking an order is simple. You do not have to guess what to do next. Even simple games like Wordle are easy to understand and use. So it gives the idea that the interaction they offered suits any type of person even people that don’t even know how to use technology. When you open it, you already know what to do without instructions. That shows how good design can make something feel natural to someone.
Overall, this reading made me pay more attention to the design of the things I use every day. I started noticing how much design affects whether something feels stressful or simple. It also made me think that simple design is usually better. I am still wondering how designers decide how much is too much. Adding more features can be helpful, but it can also make things more confusing. Finding the right balance seems difficult, and I am curious about how designers figure that out.